The Cost of Surviving

V5.5

Title: “Paid in Scars”

Verse 1
Clocked in with a half-dead heart,
Smile on my face, while I fell apart,
They loved my hands, they loved my time,
But never cared what it did to mine.
Ran my soul down to the bone,
Built their gold while I stayed broke,
Every “thank you” felt so cheap,
When they stole my rest and called it peace.

Pre-Chorus
I gave too much, they took it all,
Watched me bleed against the wall,
Said, “Be grateful, keep your head down,”
While they tried to make my worth a number now.

Chorus
I was never more than labor,
Just a body they could spend,
Used me up for dirty dollars,
Like I’d never reach an end.
Worked me ragged, worked me hollow,
Till my fire turned to smoke,
They got rich off all my breaking,
While I choked on every hope.
Yeah, they used me for the money,
And they left me overworked.

Verse 2
Late nights, sore feet, empty tank,
Still they acted like I owed them thanks,
Every hour stretched me thin,
Still they always wanted more again.
Broke my back for scraps and lies,
Dead-eyed under neon lights,
They saw hustle, not the pain,
Just another pawn they could drain.

Pre-Chorus
I gave too much, they took it all,
Watched me stumble, watched me crawl,
Called it “character,” called it “drive,”
But I was barely just surviving life.

Bridge
Now I hear those old machines
Buzzing in my memory,
All the sweat, all the strain,
Still burns underneath my skin.
I was human, not a tool,
Not a mule for someone’s rules,
And I swear I know it now—
They don’t get to own me now.

Final Chorus
I was never just their labor,
Never theirs to buy and burn,
You can’t price a soul in pieces,
And expect it not to turn.
All that pressure made me stronger,
Even if it hurt like hell,
Now I’m walking from the wreckage
With a story they can’t sell.
Yeah, they used me for the money,
But I’m more than what they took.

2158/7500

Title: “Paid in Scars” Verse 1 Clocked in with a half-dead heart, Smile on my face, while I fell apart, They loved my hands, they loved my time, But never cared what it did to mine. Ran my soul down to the bone, Built their gold while I stayed broke, Every “thank you” felt so cheap, When they stole my rest and called it peace. Pre-Chorus I gave too much, they took it all, Watched me bleed against the wall, Said, “Be grateful, keep your head down,” While they tried to make my worth a number now. Chorus I was never more than labor, Just a body they could spend, Used me up for dirty dollars, Like I’d never reach an end. Worked me ragged, worked me hollow, Till my fire turned to smoke, They got rich off all my breaking, While I choked on every hope. Yeah, they used me for the money, And they left me overworked. Verse 2 Late nights, sore feet, empty tank, Still they acted like I owed them thanks, Every hour stretched me thin, Still they always wanted more again. Broke my back for scraps and lies, Dead-eyed under neon lights, They saw hustle, not the pain, Just another pawn they could drain. Pre-Chorus I gave too much, they took it all, Watched me stumble, watched me crawl, Called it “character,” called it “drive,” But I was barely just surviving life. Chorus I was never more than labor, Just a body they could spend, Used me up for dirty dollars, Like I’d never reach an end. Worked me ragged, worked me hollow, Till my fire turned to smoke, They got rich off all my breaking, While I choked on every hope. Yeah, they used me for the money, And they left me overworked. Bridge Now I hear those old machines Buzzing in my memory, All the sweat, all the strain, Still burns underneath my skin. I was human, not a tool, Not a mule for someone’s rules, And I swear I know it now— They don’t get to own me now. Final Chorus I was never just their labor, Never theirs to buy and burn, You can’t price a soul in pieces, And expect it not to turn. All that pressure made me stronger, Even if it hurt like hell, Now I’m walking from the wreckage With a story they can’t sell. Yeah, they used me for the money, But I’m more than what they took.

0/500